Chapter 22! Thank you to all my readers and reviewers! All you Drapple readers out there, I've got my own Drapple fanfic! It's called 'Draco and his Lovely Apple'. Check it out![[JKR owns Harry Potter!]] And I'd like to thank my reviewers glazedwater, Milly and xSexyLexytheGothVampPrincessx

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Hermione awoke the next morning, her mind fresh and energetic. Before the Hogsmeade trip, she had been dreading the thought of tea at Malfoy Manor. But now, she felt that she wanted to go at any cost. She looked at the date. It was November 4. Christmas would arrive in a month!

She walked to her closet and looked at her dresses, deciding what to wear for tea today. Her eyes landed on a forest green dress. She hadn't worn that even once. "Draco would like the colour." She thought. This time, she literally slapped herself. "I'll think about this later." She decided. "First, I have to think about classes."

Two hours later, Hermione and her friends exited the Head Dorms, and made their way to the Great Hall for breakfast.

"Hermione!" Pansy called as they sat at their designated places.

Hermione turned to Pansy. "Yeah, Pansy?" she asked.

"What are you wearing for tea today?" Pansy asked.

"I'll show you later." Hermione replied.

Pansy sighed. "What about you, Ginny?" she asked.

"I'll show you later." Ginny smiled. "And you, Pansy?" she asked.

"Me? I'll show you later." Pansy said, smiling.

"Well," Draco said. "Whatever it is, wear something nice." He said. "And stop using so many 'I'll show you later's."

"Ok, ok. We know that." Pansy said and turned to the girls. "Let's get ready in Hermione's room, shall we?" she asked.

They agreed on Hermione's room and rushed off to their classes as the bell rang.

Tea was at 4 PM, so they were let off from classes at 2.30 PM to get ready. When asked, Draco said that his mother had asked Dumbledore to let them off quickly.

The girls went up to Hermione's room and the boys went up to Harry's room.

Hermione entered her room with the other girls and closed the door behind her.

"Now," Pansy spoke. "Show us your dress Hermione." She ordered.

Hermione opened her closet door and pulled out the forest green dress.

"It's beautiful!" Pansy said. "Draco will love it!"

"Shut up Pansy." Hermione said, blushing slightly. "Ok. Enough talking. Let's get to work." She ordered.

After a while, all they had to do was their hair.

"Hermione," Ginny asked, grinning widely. "Shall I go and get Draco to do your hair?"

"What! No. I can do it myself." Hermione said.

Pansy slowly made her way to the door. "I think I'll go get Draco!" she yelled and sprinted off.

"Pansy No! Wait!" Hermione cried and ran after her. Ginny laughed and walked out.

Pansy quickly knocked on Harry's door. Luckily, Draco opened it. He was wearing normal track pants, but his hair was all ready.

"What is it Pansy?" he asked.

"Draco, Hermione – "

"Nothing!" Hermione arrived on the scene and covered Pansy's mouth so that only muffled sounds could be heard. "It's nothing!" she said and started pulling Pansy away.

"That dress is just amazing!" Draco exclaimed at the sight of Hermione. Hermione blushed lightly, even as she was struggling with Pansy.

At that moment, Ginny arrived slowly. "What's all this about?" Draco asked Ginny. "Oh, nothing." Ginny said, smiling. "We just thought Hermione would need your help in taming her hair." She said.

"No!" Hermione cried, still struggling with Pansy. "I can do it myself!"

Draco smirked and pulled out his wand and pointed it towards Hermione's hair. "Capillos Lenis!" he said. Hermione's hair was once more smooth and silky.

"Well," Hermione said, touching her hair.

"Go on," Pansy said. "Hug him now."

"What?" Hermione said in horror. "What are you – " she never got to finish her sentence, as she was pushed onto Draco by both Pansy and Ginny.

"Ow!" Hermione cried as she banged into Draco. She immediately separated herself from him and turned to Pansy and Ginny, who were laughing their heads off. She pulled out her wand and shot a tickling spell towards them and walked off. The boys watched as Pansy and Ginny laughed helplessly. Finally, Draco had to use the counter-curse. The rest of the boys then began to tease Draco until he threatened to hit them with a tickling spell.

Meanwhile, Pansy and Ginny made it up to Hermione, and now, they were completely ready. The boys were waiting in the common room, chit chatting.

"We're ready!" Hermione announced as she descended the stairs.

Draco's head whipped around to look at Hermione. Harry, Blaise, Theo and Ron noticed this. Draco kept staring at her with wide eyes until Harry spoke.

"Love the dress colour Draco? Breath-taking, isn't she?" he asked Draco as he went and put an arm around Hermione's shoulders. "My sister's always the best." He said.

"Oh Harry!" Hermione said and engulfed him in a hug.

"You want a hug from her too Draco?" Harry asked.

"What?" Draco exclaimed. "No! No! Not at all! Ahem!" he cleared his throat. "We should get going." He said.

"Ok!" Blaise said. "Come on sister." He said to Hermione.

"Sure, brother." Hermione laughed.

Meanwhile, Harry and Ron were busy staring at their girlfriends.

"Enough Harry!" Draco called. Harry turned away at once and followed them to the fireplace.

Draco stepped into the fireplace and threw in some floo powder and said, "Malfoy Manor!" and disappeared in the emerald green flames. All of them did the same and found themselves in a huge room.

"Hello sirs and madams!" a high pitched voice squeaked. A tiny house elf was running up to them. To Hermione's surprise, the elf was wearing beautiful clothes and was neat and tidy.

"We pay them wages and also grant them leave." Draco said, noticing Hermione's astonishment.

"I.. no.." Hermione stammered and turned away. "Gosh!" she thought. "He reads me like a book!"

"Mrs and Mr. Malfoy is coming shortly." The elf said. "Is there anything Tinky can do for you?" she asked.

"No thank you Tinky." Hermione said, smiling down at the elf. "We'll just wait."

The elf became all excited at once. "Miss Hermione?" she asked.

Hermione nodded. "Oh!" Tinky squealed. "Tinky is so happy to meet you Miss Hermione. Mistress has told Tinky so much about you! Oh and also Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley!" she said.

"Really?" Hermione asked.

"Yes!" Tinky said. "Mistress has also told Tinky that Miss Hermione will be Tinky's new mistress!"

"Uh…" Hermione said, shocked. "Sorry, what?" she asked.

Tinky started all over again. "Mistress has told Tinky that Miss – "

"Ok, ok!" Draco cut short Tinky.

"Let her finish Draco!" Blaise said, trying to hide his laughter.

"Shut up Blaise." Draco said.

"What did she say?" Hermione demanded.

"She didn't say anything." Draco retorted.

Luckily for Draco, Lucius and Narcissa chose that moment to arrive.

"Hello!" Narcissa said cheerfully.

Everyone greeted Lucius and Narcissa. Lucius smiled.

"I never thought this Manor would be so full of people." He said.

"Neither did I." Narcissa agreed. Her face lit up. "Would you all like to see the Manor?" she asked, beaming.

"Sure." Harry said. "Please lead the way."

"Come on, then." Narcissa and started to walk with Lucius.

Everyone started to follow them, but Hermione took a few weak steps and then stopped.

"Hermione?" Draco asked. "Come on."

Hermione looked up at him. "Ok." She thought. "Let's do this." Her steps became more confident and she walked ahead of Draco.

"I hope she's okay." Draco thought. "I don't think she would recognize the drawing room." He thought hopefully. "It was where she was tortured by my deranged aunt."

After looking around the Manor, they finally arrived in the drawing room. Narcissa entered first with Lucius. "This is the drawing room." She announced happily. "It has been redecorated completely." She said. Harry and Ron shut their eyes as the events of the past flooded through their minds. Immediately, their eyes shifted to Hermione who was getting paler and paler by the minute.

No redecorating could make Hermione forget the pain she had felt. Her mind was suddenly filled with horrible images of her lying on the floor with the 'Mudblood' scar on her arm, and Bellatrix standing over her, laughing her maniacal laugh.

"NO!" Hermione cried, clutching her head tightly with both her hands.

"Hermione?" Draco ran to her side instinctively.

"I… I can't! I CAN'T!" Hermione shouted. By now, everyone was at her side and Draco had his hand on her shoulder in concern.

Hermione felt very weak all of a sudden. She couldn't hold up anymore. Her legs seemed to give way beneath her and she fell to the floor as she fainted.

"HERMIONE!" Draco yelled as he caught her, his heart filled with despair. He should have known! He never should have brought her into this dreadful room. It was all his fault. "Wake up!" he said, cupping her face in his hands. "Open your eyes!" he said, eyes watery. "Look at me!"

Meanwhile, everyone else was crouching by Hermione. Harry and Ron were rubbing her hands and feet, feeling extremely worried about their sister. Everyone felt happy seeing Draco show so much concern towards Hermione, and at the same time, felt intensely worried about Hermione. Narcissa stood up and walked to a little wooden cabinet. She took out a little vial and said to Draco, "Take her to the garden." She ordered Draco.

"But…. How?" Draco asked, not liking the idea of levitating her there.

"Pick her up boy." Lucius said, trying to hide his smirk.

"WHAT?" Draco said in shock.

"Then give her this Reviving Water." Narcissa said shoving the vial into Draco's hand.

"But why the garden?" Draco asked. "Can't we do it here?" he asked.

"No." Narcissa said firmly. "Not in this room. She is in need of some fresh air. Go now." She said.

"Then why not in some other –"

"Go!" Narcissa said. Her voice had a don't-argue-with-me-anymore kind of tone.

Draco sighed and shoved the vial into his pocket. He lifted her up easily and walked off to the garden.

Everyone else smiled and worried at the same time.

"Don't worry." Narcissa said after Draco had gone. "She's only fainted from shock. She'll be perfectly fine after she drinks the Reviving Water." Narcissa said and closed her eyes as she remembered everything that had happened in the room. Tears rolled down her cheek. Lucius put his arm around her. "It's okay, it's fine. It's over." He said soothingly.

"Come on," Pansy said, stepping forward. "Just think that this is a god given opportunity to bring them together." She said happily.

Narcissa opened her eyes. "Right." She said as she wiped her tears. "Let's go." She stepped out of the room, followed by Lucius. The others smiled and followed. Narcissa led them to the table and they all sat down. They left two chairs side by side for Draco and Hermione. Just then, Harry had a wonderful idea. He just needed someone else. He decided to take Ginny, who was sitting next to him, but then felt that it would be best if he took a Slytherin. Pansy was the Slytherin sitting beside him at the moment. He kicked her leg lightly under the table.

"Ow!" Pansy said in a low voice. She glared at Harry. "What?" she asked indignantly. Harry beckoned her forward.

"Dear sister," he began. Pansy stared at him weirdly.

"What is wrong with you?" she asked.

"Nothing." Harry said quickly. "Sister, don't you think we should go see what is happening in the garden?" he asked.

Pansy nodded. "That's right." She said. "Come on, quick!" she said and stood up all at once.

Narcissa looked towards Pansy. "What is it, Pansy dear?" she asked.

"Narcissa," Pansy began, hoping that Narcissa would agree to what she was going to say. "I thought maybe we should know what's happening in the garden this very moment. So maybe Harry and I could…." She trailed.

"Right!" Narcissa said delightfully. "Go, both of you, go now!" she ordered.

Pansy slid out of her chair. Harry stood up and asked. "But, where's the garden?" he asked.

"Oh, come on brother," Pansy said, emphasizing the word 'brother'. "I've been coming to this house ever since I was a kid. You honestly think I wouldn't know where the garden is?" she asked.

"Ok, ok!" Harry said, waving his arms in front of him. "Come on." Pansy and Harry ran off while the others at the table waited patiently.

Harry and Pansy were just in time to see Draco pour 2-3 drops of the Reviving Water into Hermione's mouth.

In the garden,

Draco carried Hermione to a bench and set her down. He didn't know why, but he felt that he needed to place her head in his lap. He sat like that for a while, enjoying the feeling of Hermione's head in his lap. It was only after sitting like that for some time was that Draco remembered that he had to revive Hermione. A new problem arose now. How was he to open her mouth?

"With your hand of course, you idiot!" his mind said.

Realizing that he had no other choice, he put his fingers to her lips. Her lips were so soft and warm. He then slowly parted them, and poured in 2-3 drops of the Reviving Water.

Hermione's eyelids fluttered open. She couldn't remember anything. She felt as if she was lying on a very soft and inviting smelling pillow. She sat up cautiously, looking around herself. Her eyes landed on Draco and she suddenly realized that she had been lying on his lap all this while. Her cheeks turned a light shade of pink and she looked away.

Draco smirked when he saw her blush. Two other people smirked too. Harry and Pansy, hidden away, were watching everything carefully.

Draco then placed his hand on her shoulder and pulled lightly to make her turn towards him. She did.

"Are you okay?" Draco asked.

At this, all of Hermione's memories came flooding back. She clutched her forearm tightly and closed her eyes. Tears dripped down her cheeks. "Bellatrix." She whispered.

It pained Draco to see her cry. He brought his hand up to her face and wiped her tears away.

"Hush, hush.." he said in an attempt to soothe her.

Hermione felt as if she needed a comforter now. And Draco was exactly that. She hugged him tightly and cried into his chest. Draco was surprised, but said nothing. He knew how she was feeling. She cried until her tears subsided. She again realized that she had been crying into Draco's chest. She turned away once more. Draco understood why she turned away.

"It's alright." He said.

Hermione turned to him all at once. "It is?" she asked.

Draco nodded. He then gently took her hand in his and cast the counter-spell for the Disillusionment charm. It appeared. The letters 'Mudblood', crudely printed on her soft skin.

"I should have done something." He said.

"What?" Hermione asked, not understanding what he was talking about.

"I should have done something." Draco repeated. "I should have stopped Bellatrix. I should have saved you even if it had cost me my life. I wanted to, but I…" he stopped and turned away from her.

Hermione felt herself soften. This person, who had teased her and made her life a living hell all these years, had now made her melt.

"Draco, look at me." She said. Draco slowly turned towards her.

Hermione smiled at him. "None of this is your fault." She said. "If you had tried to do anything there, then I would have lost one of my best friends that day."

"Really?" Draco asked.

Hermione nodded confidently.

They stared into each other's eyes. Both of them leaned forward until their faces were centimeters apart from each other.

Draco felt as if he wanted to kiss Hermione then and there. Hermione felt that she wanted to kiss Draco thoroughly.

Draco pressed his lips to her warm, soft ones. He was in heaven. He was enjoying himself thoroughly. Her lips were so…. so…. kissable. Hermione felt really good. It was a perfect kiss. It was something she had never felt before. The feeling of his lips on hers made her feel protected and warm.

The kiss lasted for about 5 seconds. They pulled away at the same moment.

"Hermione, I – " Draco started to explain.

"Leave it." Hermione said.

"Look." Draco said. "I don't know why, but I felt that I needed to kiss you." he confessed.

Hermione stared at him. That was exactly how she had felt. "I felt the same." She admitted.

"Let's go inside." Draco said, not wanting to talk about that amazing kiss anymore.

Hermione nodded and they walked back into the Manor.

Harry and Pansy, having witnessed everything, smiled at each other and dashed back to the table.

"We'll tell you later." Pansy said when everyone asked them what had happened.

"They're coming in now." Harry said.

At Harry's words, everyone at the table started chatting normally as if nothing had happened. Draco and Hermione entered and sat down.

"Are you alright, dear?" Narcissa asked Hermione.

"Uh.. Yeah.. I'm fine." Hermione replied.

Narcissa smiled at Hermione and Draco and they smiled back.

Finally, tea was over and they were ready to go back to Hogwarts.

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